Elon Musk’s social media platform X has won a legal fight in Australia after a court refused a temporary order blocking videos of a Sydney stabbing.
Local media reported that a federal judge refused to grant an extension to the injunction removing images of the stabbing attack on a priest last month.
ABC News Australia Reports:
The Federal Court chose not to extend a temporary order that social media company X (formerly Twitter) to hide videos of a terrorist stabbing in Sydney.
The eSafety commissioner has tried to force the platform, to remove about 60 instances, of the footage showing an attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, in Wakeley, Western Sydney, in April. Julie Inman Grant has the authority to remove “class 1” material under the Online Safety Act of 2021.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel suffered a stab wound during a sermon live-streamed online. The sermon was viewed by hundreds of thousands. After the incident, the country’s eSafety commissioner was granted a legal injunction that ordered X to remove posts showing footage of the attack.
In the days after the stabbing, X decided to “geoblock”, meaning that most Australian users would no longer be able to see the posts. They also refused the eSafety commissioner’s removal notification, which could have had a worldwide effect.
Musk posted on his platform in a post last month that he was fighting against government censorship.
“Our concern is, if ANY country can censor content across ALL countries as the Australian eSafety Commissioner demands, what stops any other country from controlling the Internet?” He then wrote, “We’ve already censored this content for Australia pending a legal appeal and it’s only stored on servers in the USA.”
Our concern is that if ANY country is allowed to censor content for ALL countries, which is what the Australian “eSafety Commissar” is demanding, then what is to stop any country from controlling the entire Internet?
We have already censored the content in question for… https://t.co/aca9E4uAB7
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 22, 2024
Anthony Albanese Australia’s leftist Prime Minister said last month that Musk is an “arrogant millionaire who believes he’s beyond the law.”
The war of words between Australian Prime Minster Anthony Albanese and Elon Musk has intensified – with the PM slamming Mr Musk as arrogant, ego-driven, and above the law for refusing to comply with the eSafety Commissioner’s censorship demands.
I dunno, perhaps Mr Musk just has… pic.twitter.com/jzVWzCJxmX
— Free Speech Union of Australia (@FSUofAustralia) April 22, 2024
Musk replied, “I don’t think I am above the law.” “Does PM think that he should be able to have jurisdiction over the entire Earth?”
Is challenging global censorship arrogance?
From a legal perspective, X is in full compliance with Australian laws. The eSafety Commissioner has directed X to remove certain posts worldwide.
Is it legal for one country to demand censorship beyond its borders? pic.twitter.com/kwsTt9Xjei
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) April 23, 2024
Musk’s win is small but it will be a relief for many Australians, who have seen their government grow more authoritarian in recent years. Australia’s draconian lockdown policies during the coronavirus outbreak were condemned by many around the globe. Many of its citizens had been prevented from leaving or entering the country for nearly two years.
